Novel candida infanticola strain, mutant strain and transformant strain thereof, and method for producing dioic acids using same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for producing dioic acids from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids using a Candida infanticola strain, and to a Candida infanticola microorganism used therefor. The present invention reduces the cost increase resulting from the fluctuation in the international oil price and the burden of environmental pollution, which are caused by the use of fossil fuels, and thus can be utilized in various industrial fields using DDDA as a raw material.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

The present application is being filed along with a Sequence Listing in electronic format. The Sequence Listing is provided as a file entitled SEQLISTING_TERA001.001D1.TXT, created Feb. 13, 2020, which is 15 Kb in size. The information in the electronic format of the Sequence Listing is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for producing dioic acids from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids using Candida infanticola strain and Candida infanticola microorganism used therefor.

Description of the Related Art

Dioic acids are very important chemicals in the chemical industry, and used for a variety of industrial applications such as not only petroleum-derived nylon used in engineering resins, automobile parts, sporting goods, carpets and toothbrushes but also other polymeric plasticizers, adhesives, lubricants, epoxy resins, corrosion inhibitors, coating agents, processed plastic, perfumes and pharmaceutical products. Of these dioic acids, about 15,000,000,000 pounds of dodecanedioic acids are synthesized from petrochemical raw materials annually. These petrochemical raw materials are mainly scarce natural raw materials, and their use is closely related to environmental destruction and change around the world, and these petrochemical raw materials are sensitive to price fluctuations and increase the burden on environmental pollution.

Accordingly, there is a need for alternative production methods of dioic acids that are renewable, sustainable and able to reduce the burden on the environment.

SUMMARY Technical Problem

In order to solve the above problems in the art, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing dioic acids and Candida infanticola strain.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for producing dioic acids from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids using Candida infanticola strain.

The method for producing dioic acids may comprise the following steps of:

-   -   (A) culturing Candida infanticola strain in yeast extract         glucose medium (YG medium) supplemented with a substrate         containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids for securing initial cell         mass;     -   (B) adding a carbon source or a substrate containing         hydrocarbons, fatty acids or its derivatives to the culture         solution obtained in the step (A) to induce ω-oxidation         reaction; and     -   (C) culturing the reaction solution obtained in the step (B)         while adding a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids         and glucose.

The culture of the step (A) may be conducted at a condition of 30±5° C., dissolved oxygen of 10% or more for 20 hours to 50 hours.

Further, the reaction of the step (B) may be conducted with a carbon source of 0.5% to 5% for 10 hours to 30 hours.

Further, the culture of the step (C) is conducted with the substrate of 0.1 ml/L/h to 2 ml/L/h and the glucose of 1 g/L/h to 3 g/L/h for 50 hours to 100 hours.

In the method for producing dioic acids, the dioic acids may be selected from the group consisting of ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decanedioic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid, hexadecanedioic acid and a combination thereof.

In the method for producing dioic acids, the Candida infanticola strain may be Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP), Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; KCTC13099BP), Candida infanticola transformant strain (Candida infanticola; KCTC13103BP, KCTC13104BP, KCTC13105BP, KCTC13106BP) or a combination thereof.

Further, the present invention provides Candida infanticola strain producing dioic acids from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention relates to a method for producing dioic acids from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids using a Candida infanticola strain, and to a Candida infanticola microorganism used therefor. The present invention reduces the cost increase resulting from the fluctuation in the international oil price and the burden of environmental pollution, which are caused by the use of fossil fuels, and thus can be utilized in various industrial fields using DDDA as a raw material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing briefly representing a competition induction continuous integrated culture device.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing change on OD value of microorganism in competition induction continuous integrated culture over time.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing change on dilution rate of microorganism in competition induction continuous integrated culture over time.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing 18s rRNA base sequence of an isolated strain.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing growth rate of an isolated strain (Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP)) by pH.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing dodecane consumption rate and amount of the produced cell for Candida infanticola wild type strain (KCTC 12820BP) and Candida tropicalis (ATCC 20336) over time.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing dodecanedioic acid (DDDA) conversion of dodecane by Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP).

FIG. 8 is a graph showing dodecanedioic acid (DDDA) conversion of dodecane by Candida tropicalis (ATCC20336).

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram about manufacture of solid medium using steam.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing OD value according to the presence or absence of single carbon source for Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA 01: KCTC13099BP).

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the result of converting dioic acids of a mutant strain by using fatty acids.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the result of converting dioic acids of a mutant strain by using dodecane.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the result of converting dioic acids of a mutant strain by using decane.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the result of transformation of a strain by heatshock.

FIG. 15 is a phase difference microscopic image showing the condition of cells according to the hydroxyurea concentration.

FIG. 16 is a mimetic diagram of a cassette for manufacturing a uracil auxotroph strain and the result of gDNA PCR.

FIG. 17 is a mimetic diagram of a cassette for manufacturing a CiPOX1 gene-deficient strain and the result of gDNA PCR.

FIG. 18 is a mimetic diagram of a cassette for manufacturing a CiPOX2 gene-deficient strain and the result of gDNA PCR.

FIG. 19 is a mimetic diagram of a cassette for manufacturing a CiPOX1 and CiPOX2 genes-deficient strain and the result of gDNA PCR.

FIG. 20 is the result of showing capacity for producing dicarboxylic acid in a flask for a wild type strain, CiPOX1 gene-deficient strain, and CiPOX1CiPOX2 genes-deficient strain.

FIG. 21 is the result of showing capacity for producing dicarboxylic acid in a 5L fermenter for a CiPOX1/CiPOX2 genes-deficient strain.

DEPOSIT OF MICROORGANISM

The following microorganisms have been deposited in accordance with the terms of the Budapest Treaty with the Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC), Republic of Korea, on the date indicated:

Microorganism Accession No. Date Candida infanticola LC-DA01 KCTC 13099BP Sep. 22, 2016 Candida infanticola DS02 Ura3⁻ KCTC 13103BP Sep. 22, 2016 Candida infanticola DS02 pox1⁻ KCTC 13104BP Sep. 22, 2016 Candida infanticola DS02 pox2⁻ KCTC 13105BP Sep. 22, 2016 Candida infanticola DS02 pox1⁻, KCTC 13106BP Sep. 22, 2016 pox2⁻

Candida infanticola LC-DA01 was deposited under Accession Number KCTC 13099BP, Candida infanticola DS02 Ura3⁻was deposited under Accession Number KCTC 13103BP, Candida infanticola DS02 pox1⁻was deposited under Accession Number KCTC 13104BP, Candida infanticola DS02 pox2⁻was deposited under Accession Number KCTC 13105BP, and Candida infanticola DS02 pox1⁻, pox2⁻was deposited under Accession Number KCTC 13106BP on Sep. 22, 2019 with KCTC. This deposit was made under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure and the Regulations thereunder (Budapest Treaty). This assures maintenance of a viable culture of the deposit for 30 years from date of deposit. The deposit will be made available by KCTC under the terms of the Budapest Treaty, and subject to an agreement between Applicant and KCTC which assures permanent and unrestricted availability of the progeny of the culture of the deposit to the public upon issuance of the pertinent U.S. patent or upon laying open to the public of any U.S. or foreign patent application, whichever comes first, and assures availability of the progeny to one determined by the U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto according to 35 U.S.C. § 122 and the Commissioner's rules pursuant thereto (including 37 C.F.R. § 1.14). Availability of the deposited strain is not to be construed as a license to practice the invention in contravention of the rights granted under the authority of any government in accordance with its patent laws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various changes in form and details may be made to the presently disclosed embodiment and thus should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. The presently disclosed embodiment is not limited to the aspects described in the present description, and thus it should be understood that the presently disclosed embodiment includes every kind of variation example or alternative equivalent included in the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed embodiment. Also, while describing the aspects, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the aspects of the presently disclosed embodiment will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

The term ‘block’ used herein can be interchanged with the term ‘inhibit’ and may mean blocking some pathways or reactions.

Further, the term ‘hydrocarbon’ may refer to an organic compound consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen.

Further, ‘fatty acid’ may refer to a saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acid in the form of a chain.

Further, the term ‘ω-oxidation’ may mean a reaction in which the terminal methyl group of fatty acid is oxidized to dicarboxylic acid, and the term ‘β-oxidation’ may mean a reaction in which a β-carbon atom in a carboxyl group is oxidized to degrade while releasing acetyl CoA. In general, oxidation of fatty acid is the main reaction of β-oxidation (ω-oxidation) in which the fatty acid is cleaved from the terminal carboxyl group to two carbon units, and the ω-oxidation is understood to be a supplementary pathway for medium chain fatty acid having carbon number of 10 to 12.

According to the method for producing dioic acids of the present invention, dioic acids can be produced from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids using Candida infanticola strain.

The method for producing dioic acids is characterized by comprising the following steps of: (A) culturing Candida infanticola strain in yeast extract glucose medium (YG medium) supplemented with a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids for securing initial cell mass;

-   -   (B) adding a carbon source or a substrate containing         hydrocarbons, fatty acids or its derivatives to the culture         solution of the step (A) to induce ω-oxidation reaction; and     -   (C) culturing the reaction solution of the step (B) while adding         a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids and glucose.

The culture of the step (A) may be conducted at a condition of 30±5° C., dissolved oxygen of 10% or more for 20 hr to 50 hr, and preferably it may be conducted at a condition of 30±3° C., dissolved oxygen of 30±3% for 24 hr to 48 hr. Further, the substrate may be methyl laurate, but not limited thereto.

The reaction of the step (B) may be conducted with a carbon source of 0.5% to 5% or a substrate for 10 hr to 30 hr, preferably it may be conducted with a carbon source of 0.5% to 3% or a substrate for 15 hr to 25 hr, and more preferably it may be conducted with dodecane of about 1% for 15 hr to 25 hr.

The culture of the step (C) may be conducted with the substrate of 0.1 ml/L/h to 2 ml/L/h and the glucose of 1 g/L/h to 3 g/L/h for 50 hr to 100 hr, and preferably it may be conducted with the substrate of 0.5 ml/L/h to 1 ml/L/h and the glucose of 1.5 g/L/h to 2.5 g/L/h for 80 hr to 100 hr. The substrate may be methyl laurate, but not limited thereto.

The dioic acids may be selected from the group consisting of ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decanedioic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid, hexadecanedioic acid and a combination thereof, and preferably the dioic acids may include dodecanedioic acid.

The Candida infanticola strain may be selected from a wild type strain, a mutant strain, a transformant strain and a combination thereof.

Specifically, the wild type strain may be Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) without genetic manipulation, the mutant strain may be Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LCDA01; KCTC13099BP), and the transformant strain may be Candida infanticola transformant strain (Candida infanticola; KCTC13103BP, KCTC13104BP, KCTC13105BP, KCTC13106BP).

According to one embodiment, the Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) may be a strain which uses a carbon source selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, fatty acids and a combination thereof.

The carbon source may be selected from hydrocarbons or fatty acids having carbon number of 6 to 30, preferably alkanes or fatty acids having carbon number of 8 to 20. For example, it may be dodecane, methyl laurate, lauric acid, its derivatives or a combination thereof, and derivatives of lauric acid may be C1-8 alkyl laurate. Preferably, it may be selected from the group consisting of methyl laurate, ethyl laurate, propyl laurate and a combination thereof.

Further, the Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LCDA01; KCTC13099BP) may be a strain which uses a substrate selected from hydrocarbons, fatty acids and a combination thereof. The mutant strain may be manufactured by a method of treating, for example, ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS), ultra violet (UV) or a combination thereof, to a wild type strain, but not limited thereto.

Further, the Candida infanticola transformant strain (Candida infanticola; KCTC13103BP, KCTC13104BP, KCTC13105BP, KCTC13106BP) may use a substrate selected from hydrocarbons, fatty acids and a combination thereof. The transformant strain can be manufactured by inducing transformation by physical stimulation such as heat-shock and electroporation, chemical stimulation such as hydroxyurea treatment, and the like, and the transformation efficiency may be enhanced, for example, by using polyethylene glycol (PEG), lithiumacetate, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the like for heat-shock. In general, it is known that homologous recombination and non-recombinant recombination of eukaryotes such as yeast are regulated depending on the cell cycle. The homologous recombination can occur mainly in the S phase and G2 phase using chromatid for DNA replication, and for example, in order to increase probability of the homologous recombination, the cell cycle can be regulated by using hydroxyurea. Specifically, the hydroxyurea can inhibit ribonucleotide reductase and reduce the amount of dNTP to be used for DNA synthesis, thereby arresting the cell cycle in the S phase. Therefore, the probability of homologous recombination upon transformation can be increased.

According to one embodiment, the transformant strain may include a strain deleted with URA3 and POX genes. Transformation of the gene-deficient strain may be induced, for example, by applying heat-shock, hydroxyurea treatment or a combination thereof to a wild type Candida infanticola strain, and the order and the number of times of the application may be suitably selected by those skilled in the art. Further, according to one embodiment, the transformant strain may be a haploid. For example, in general, Candida infanticola strain, whose polyploidy is a haploid, may be advantageous in genetic manipulation compared with Candida tropicalis, which is a diploid mainly used in the production of dicarboxylic acid in industry.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention is explained by the following examples in more detail. The following examples are intended to further illustrate the present invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Example 1: Isolation of Candida infanticola Wild Type Strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP)

A samples was collected from an oil separator (CPI, Coagulated Plate Interceptor), an aeration tank and a precipitation tank of a waste water treatment facility of petrochemical process that processes waste water through an equalization tank, an aeration tank, a precipitation tank and the like after the first treatment in the oil separator (CPI) to treat waste water from a petrochemical plant containing high concentration of various carbon sources.

The sample was prepared by collecting a waste water sample from inflow water of the oil separator, effluent water of the oil separator, effluent water of the equalization tank, inflow water of the aeration tank, effluent water of the aeration tank, inflow water of the precipitation tank and effluent water of the precipitation tank in a 1 L sterilized water sample pack, and the collected sample was placed in

an ice box and transferred to a laboratory. A portion of the collected sample was first spread on a solid medium (agar plate) made of the primary culture medium composition shown in the following Table 1, and cultured in a 30° C. constant temperature incubator for 1 week. After the culture, in order to select strains with high growth rate in a culture solution containing dodecane (C₁₂ alkane), colonies generated on the solid medium were collected, inoculated into competition induction continuous integrated culture medium containing dodecane (C₁₂ alkane) as the only carbon source, made of the subculture medium composition shown in the following Table 1, and then cultured in the competition induction continuous integrated culture device (FIG. 1) at a condition of 30° C., quantity of airflow of 1 v/v/m, agitation speed of 400 rpm and pH 5.0 (controlled by 10 N NaOH). After consumed the initially added dodecane of 20 g/L during the competition induction continuous integrated culture, the additional medium of the following Table 2 containing dodecane of 40 g/L additionally was added thereto and then dilution rate was increased from 0 to 0.4, thereby finally isolating Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) as a strain having the best growth. In this experiment, antibiotics kanamycin of 25 mg/L was used to inhibit the growth of some microorganisms. The results of the above experiments were shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

TABLE 1 Competition induction continuous Primary culture integrated culture medium Medium medium Subculture Additional composition (Solid medium) medium medium YNB 6.7 g/L 20 g/L 20 g/L (Yeast nitrogen base without amino acid) Dodecane  10 g/L 20 g/L 40 g/L Surfactant Gum Arabic Tween 80 Tween 80 0.5% 3 mL/L 3 mL/L

Test Example 1: 18 s rRNA Genetic Analysis of Isolated Strain

The isolated strain isolated in Example 1 was analyzed by 18 s rRNA base sequence analysis. Genomic DNA of the isolated strain of Example 1 was extracted by using a Yeast gDNA prep kit (PureHelixTM, NANOHELIX), and then the extracted genomic DNA as a template was amplified by PCR using the 18 s ITS ¼ primer shown in the following Table 2. After cloning TA vector, 18 s rRNA base sequence was obtained through DNA sequencing reaction, and the base sequence was shown in FIG. 4 as SEQ ID NO. 1.

TABLE 2 Base sequence (5′ → 3′) SEQ ID NO. Forward TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG G SEQ ID NO. 2 primer Reward TCC GCT TAT TGA TAT GC SEQ ID NO. 3 primer

For the base sequence of the isolated strain shown in FIG. 4 (SEQ ID NO. 1), homology of the strain was examined using BLAST (Basic Local Alignment search tool) of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). The results of the examination were shown in the following Table 3.

As shown in the following Table 3, it can be confirmed that the isolated strain is allied species having high homology with Candida infanticola CBS11940.

TABLE 3 Sequence Isolated strain length Allied species Homology Candida 441 bp Candida infanticola strain 99% infanticola DS02 CBS11940 (HQ695010)

Test Example 2: Carbon source assimilation ability analysis of Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) In order to check carbon source assimilation ability of the above strain (Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP)), API 20 c AUX (Biomerieux company) was used for analysis. The results of the experiments analyzed by using API 20 c AUX (Biomerieux company) was compared with the existing Candida infanticola kurtzman and Candida infanticola sp., and the results were shown in the following Table 4.

TABLE 4 Example 1 Comparative (Candida Example 1 Comparative infanticola (Candida Example 2 Carbon DS02; KCTC infanticola (Candida source 12820BP) kurtzman) infanticola sp.) Glucose + + + Glycerol − + + 2-Keto-D- − − − gluconate L-Arabinose − − − D-Xylose − − − Adonitol − − − Xylitol − − − D-galactose − + + Inositol − − − D-Sorbitol − + + A-Methyl-D- − − − glucoside N-Acetyl-D- − − − glucosamine D-Cellobiose − − − D-Lactose − − − D-Maltose − − − D-Saccharose − − − (Sucrose) D-Trehalose − − − D-Melezitose − − − D-Raffinose − − −

As shown in the above Table 4, when comparing Comparative Example 1 (Candida infanticola kurtzman) and Comparative Example 2 (Candida infanticola sp.) with Candida infanticola wild type strain (KCTC 12820BP)(Example 1), it can be confirmed that the previously known Candida infanticola strains of Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 have assimilation ability for the carbon source, i.e., glucose, glycerol, D-galactose and D-sorbitol, whereas the Candida infanticola wild type strain (KCTC 12820BP) can use only glucose as a carbon source. As shown in the above experiment results, it can be found that the novel Candida infanticola wild type strain (KCTC 12820BP) of the present invention shows a large difference in carbon assimilation ability compared with the existing strains.

Test Example 3: Optimum Growth pH of Candida infanticola Wild Type Strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP)

In order to check the optimum growth pH of Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP), initial pH of yeast nitrogen base (YNB) medium without amino acid was variously set from 4 to 7, and the strain was cultured in the medium. The results of the experiment were shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, it can be confirmed that the optimum growth pH of Candida infanticola wild type strain (KCTK 12820BP) is pH 7.

Test Example 4: Comparison of Alkane (C12) Substrate Uptake Rate when Culturing Candida infanticola Wild Type Strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) with Alkane (C12) as only Carbon Source

In order to check alkane (C12) consumption rate and amount of the produced cell in alkane (C12) substrate culture of Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP), as shown in the following Table 5, the Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) of Ex ample 1 and Candida tropicalis (ATCC 20336) as a comparison standard strain were cultured in yeast extract medium containing dodecane of 20 g/L as the only carbon source. The results of the experiment were shown in FIG. 6.

TABLE 5 Composition Amount (g/L) Dodecane 20 MgSO₄•7H₂O 1 Yeast extract 20 (NH₄)₂SO₄ 8 KH₂PO₄ (monobasic) 2 NaCl 0.1 CaCl₂•2H₂O 0.1 Trace CaCl₂•2H₂O 13.2 g/L   1 ml element FeSO₄•7H₂O 8.4 g/L solution MnSO₄•4H₂O 2.4 g/L ZnSO₄•7H₂O 2.4 g/L CuSO₄•5H₂O 0.48 g/L CoCl₂•6H₂O 0.48 g/L Na₂MoO₄•2H₂O 0.24 g/L K₂B₄O₇•4H₂O 0.06 g/L CaCl₂•2H₂O 13.2 g/L Antifoam 0.5 ml

As shown in FIG. 6, it can be confirmed that the dodecane consumption rate of the Candida infanticola DS02 was 6.2 g/L per day that was 1.6 times faster than the dodecane consumption rate of the Candida tropicalis, used as a comparison strain, of 3.7 g/L per day. In addition, it can be confirmed that the amount of the produced cell was also 17% higher.

Example 2: Conversion of Dodecane into DDDA (Dodecanedioic Acid) by Candida infanticola Wild Type Strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP)

In order to obtain the initial cell mass for conversion of dodecane into DDDA(dodecanedioic acid) by Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP), wild type strain Candida tropicalis (ATCC 20336) that belongs to the same species with the strain and not genetically manipulated, Candida parapsilosis and Pichia caribbica, the Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) of Example 1 was cultured in yeast extract medium that contains glucose of 50 g/L and uses methyl laurate substrate for 24 hr to 48 hr at a condition of 30° C., quantity of airflow of 1 v/v/m, agitation speed of dissolved oxygen (DO) of 30% (100 rpm to 900 rpm depending on DO value) and pH 5, and then ω-oxidation was induced using 1% dodecane at pH 7 for 12 hr to 20 hr. Then, the cultured was continued for 9 hr while adding methyl laurate of 0.5 ml/L/h to 1.0 ml/L/h and glucose of 2 g/L/h to conduct the DDDA conversion at pH 7 to pH 8. The results of the experiment were shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and the following Table 6.

TABLE 6 O.D. DDDA concentration Result of 144 hr culture (max.) (g/L) Example 1 157.4 14.0 (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) Comparative Example 3 133.1 0.62 (Candida tropicalis; ATCC 20336) Comparative Example 4 146.8 0 (Candida parapsilosis) Comparative Example 5 141.8 0 (Pichia caribbica)

As shown in the above Table 6, as the result of the culture for 144 hr, it can be confirmed that Example 1 (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) showed O. D (optical density) value of 157 and DDDA concentration of 14.0 g/L that was much higher than O.D value of 133.1 and DDDA concentration of 0.62 g/L of Comparative Example 3 (Candida tropicalis; ATCC 20336), and there was no DDDA conversion and the added carbon source was only used for cell growth in Comparative Example 4 and Comparative Example 5.

Example 3: Induction and Screening of Mutant for Wild Type Candida infanticola Strain

The wild type Candida infanticola (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) strain can grow by using dodecane as single carbon source, but a mutant strain in which β-oxidation pathway is blocked cannot substantially grow by using dodecane as single carbon source. The “cannot substantially grow” means “dose not grow” or “grow a little”. Thus, a mutant strain was selected by comparing strain growth in solid medium containing glucose or dodecane as single carbon source.

In order to induce mutation to the selected mutant strain, ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and UV were used. Using phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer, the Candida infanticola (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) strain suspension having OD (optical density 600nm) of 0.01 to 0.1 was prepared, and 2% EMS (ethyl methane sulfonate) mutagen was added thereto to adjust to 1 ml. The suspension was reacted at 30° C., 150 rpm for 120 min, centrifuged to remove supernatant, and then washed with 20% sodium thiosulfate two times to remove the EMS. Then, the strain was suspended in 1 ml PBS buffer. 10 μl of the suspension was spread on YPD solid medium and cultured at 30° C. for 3 days to obtain a primary mutant strain survived within 10%.

The strain treated with EMS mutagen was suspended in PBS (phosphate buffered saline) to OD of 0.01 to 0.1. 10 μl of the suspension was spread on YPD solid medium, irradiated with UV (ultraviolet 254 nm) for 120 sec, and cultured at 30° C. for 3 days to obtain a secondary mutant strain survived within about 10%. The mutagenesis process can be performed by UV irradiation after EMS treatment, EMS treatment after UV irradiation, or EMS or UV alone, and the order and the number of times of mutation can be appropriately selected by those skilled in the art.

In order to select a mutant strain in which β-oxidation is blocked by mutagenesis, strain growth on solid medium containing glucose or dodecane as single carbon source was compared. The composition of the used solid medium was as follows: solid medium (YNB, yeast nitrogen base without amino acid) using glucose as single carbon source 6.7 g/L and glucose 10 g/L, and solid medium (YNB, yeast nitrogen base without amino acid) using dodecane as single carbon source 6.7 g/L and dodecane 10 g/L. In the case of the solid medium containing dodecane whose color is opaque white, it is not easy to identify grown colony. Therefore, solid medium was prepared by using dodecane vapor and strain growth was efficiently compared. The solid medium was illustrated in FIG. 9.

The procedure was performed as follows: a filter of sterilized paper is put into solid medium, a fixed amount of dodecane is applied on the filter, dodecane is spread in the solid medium as a vapor during solid culture, and the strain uses the dodecane. Candidate mutant strain was suspended in PBS buffer to obtain strain suspension having OD of 0.01 to 0.1, 10 μl of the suspension was inoculated on the two solid medium described above using a micropipette and then cultured at 30° C. for 3 days. The primary selection was conducted by selecting a strain that grows well on the glucose solid medium but does not grow on the dodecane solid medium because β-oxidation was blocked.

The primarily selected mutant strain was grown in liquid medium containing dodecane as single carbon source to secondarily select a β-oxidation gene-blocked strain. In this Example, total 6 selected strains were subjected to liquid culture. The liquid culture was conducted as follows: each selected strain was inoculated in a culture solution containing 70 ml dodecane as single carbon source in a 250 ml flask (Erlenmeyer flask) to first culture OD of 1 and cultured at 30° C., 150 rpm for 6 days. The composition of the used liquid medium was medium (YNB, yeast nitrogen base without amino acid) using dodecane as single carbon source 20 g/L and dodecane 20 g/L. Each culture result was shown in graphs of FIG. 10, which shows OD values measured for mutant strains that did not use dodecane as a carbon source and mutant strains that used dodecane. The strains not used dodecane was determined as the strains in which β-oxidation was blocked to complete the secondary selection. The β-oxidation-blocked mutant strain was named as Candida infanticola LC-DA 01, and deposited to Korean Collection for Type Cultures of Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (Accession No.: KCTC13099BP, Sep. 8, 2016).

As shown in FIG. 10, it can be primarily confirmed that β-oxidation pathway of the mutant strain (Accession No.: KCTC13099BP) was blocked.

Example 4: Dioic Acids Conversion Culture of Candida infanticola Mutant Strain using Fatty Acid Substrate

In order to obtain the initial cell mass for dodecanedioic acids (DDDA) conversion of methyl laurate by Candida infanticola mutant strain (Accession No.:

KCTC13099BP), Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; Accession No.: KCTC13099BP) was cultured in yeast extract medium, which contains glucose 50 g/L and supplemented with methyl laurate substrate, at 30° C., agitation speed of dissolved oxygen (DO) of 30% (100 rpm to 900 rpm depending on DO value) and pH 5 for 24 hr to 48 hr. At 12 hr to 24 hr during the culture, after completely consuming glucose of 50 g/L, glucose was added at 1 g/L/h to 4 g/L/h until the culture was finished.

After obtaining the initial cell mass, β-oxidation was induced using 1% dodecane at pH 7 for 12 hr to 20 hr, and culture was continued for 96 hr to 144 hr while adding methyl laurate at 0.5 ml/L/h to 4.0 ml/L/h and glucose at 1 g/L/h to 4 g/L/h to conduct DDDA conversion at pH 7 to pH 8. The results were shown in FIG. 11 and Table 7.

TABLE 7 Mutant Wild type DS02; (β-oxidation-blocked C. infanticola KCTC 12820BP Lotte LC-DA01) Cell amount (O.D.) 184.0/159.8 62.1/36.2 (Maximum/Final) DDDA concentration (g/L) 10.6 140.9 DDDA productivity (g/L/h) 0.07 1.67 DDDA conversion yield 0.08 0.90 (DDDA/substrate)

It can be confirmed that, after 108 hr culture, the (3-oxidation-blocked Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; Accession No.: KCTC13099BP) showed 0.D (optical density, maximum/final) value of 62.1/36.2, DDDA concentration of 140.9 g/L (conversion yield of 90%) and DDDA productivity of 1.67 g/L/h, and the DDDA concentration was 13 times or more higher than DDDA concentration of 10.6 g/L of the wild type Candida infanticola strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) in which β-oxidation was not blocked.

Example 5: Dioic Acids Conversion Culture of Candida infanticola Mutant Strain using Hydrocarbon Substrate

In order to obtain the initial cell mass for dioic acids conversion of dodecane and decane by Candida infanticola mutant strain (KCTC13099BP), Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; Accession No.: KCTC13099BP) was cultured in yeast extract medium, which contains glucose 50 g/L and supplemented with methyl laurate substrate, at 30° C., agitation speed of dissolved oxygen (DO) of 30% (100 rpm to 900 rpm depending on DO value) and pH 5 for 24 hr to 48 hr. At 12 hr to 24 hr during the culture, after completely consuming glucose of 50 g/L, glucose was added at 1 g/L/h to 4 g/L/h until the culture was finished.

After obtaining the initial cell mass, β-oxidation was induced using 1% dodecane at pH 7 for 12 hr to 20 hr, and culture was continued for 96 hr to 144 hr while adding dodecane and decane substrate at 0.5 ml/L/h to 4.0 ml/L/h and glucose at 1 g/L/h to 4 g/L/h to conduct DDDA conversion at pH 7 to pH 8. The results for dodecane substrate were shown in FIG. 12 and the results for decane substrate were shown in FIG. 13 and Table 8.

TABLE 8 DDDA production Sebacic acid C. infanticola using dodecane production using LC-DA01 substrate decane substrate Cell amount (O.D.) 64.2/42.6 66.9/40.0 (maximum/final) DDDA/sebacic acid 122.5 77.6 concentration (g/L) DDDA/sebacic acid 1.70 0.81 productivity (g/L/h) DDDA conversion yield 0.99 0.75 (DDDA/substrate)

It can be confirmed that, after 96 hr culture, the dodecane substrate fermentation results of the β-oxidation-blocked Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; Accession No.: KCTC13099BP) showed O.D (optical density, maximum/final) value of 64.2/42.6, DDDA concentration of 122.5g g/L (conversion yield of 99%) and DDDA productivity of 1.70 g/L/h, and therefore, dioic acids productivity can be enhanced by using hydrocarbons as a substrate due to blocked β-oxidation.

Further, it can be confirmed that, after 96 hr culture, the decane substrate fermentation results of the β-oxidation-blocked Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; Accession No.: KCTC13099BP) showed O.D (optical density, maximum/final) value of 66.9/40.0, sebacic acid concentration of 77.6 g/L (conversion yield of 99%) and sebacic acid productivity of 0.75 g/L/h, and therefore, dioic acids productivity can be enhanced by using hydrocarbons as a substrate due to blocked β-oxidation.

Test Example 5: Optimization of Transformation Method

In order to obtain a transformant strain, as a transformation method for introducing a foreign gene, heat-shock method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and lithium-acetate, which are mainly used in yeast, was use. A strain was cultured on YPED solid medium at 30° C. for 20 hr to 24 hr. 2×10⁶ cells of Candida infanticola (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) were collected and suspended in a buffer containing a mixture of 50% polyethylene glycol and lithium-acetate. The suspension was reacted at 30° C. for 45 min and at 42° C. for 15 min and then the supernatant was removed. The cells were resuspended in YPED medium, cultured with shaking at 30° C. for 6 hr, spread on YEPD medium containing antibiotics and cultured at 30° C. for 3 days. In order to increase transformation efficiency, the most efficient methods were compared by adding chemicals such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) during the heat-shock process. As a result, it was confirmed that the heat-shock method treated with DMSO was the most efficient, and the results were shown in FIG. 14.

Test Example 6: Cell Cycle Regulation using Hydroxyurea

The homologous recombination can occur mainly in the S phase and G2 phase using chromatid for DNA replication. Therefore, in order to increase probability of the homologous recombination, cell cycle was regulated using hydroxyurea. 10⁷ cells/20 ml of Candida infanticola (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) growing in YEPD medium was treated with 0.2 M hydroxyurea and reacted for 2 hr. As a result, it was confirmed that S phase cells were observed most frequently. The results were shown in FIG.

15.

Example 6: Obtaining of Uracil Auxotroph Strain

As a result of transformation of the cells of Candida infanticola (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP) cell cycle-arrested in the S phase by heatshock and hydroxyurea treatment mentioned above, a uracil auxotroph strain (Accession No.: KCTC13103BP), in which a foreign gene was replaced at the position of URA3 gene, was obtained.

As selection medium, minimal medium supplemented with uracil and 5-fluororotic acid (5′-FOA) was used, and a mimetic diagram for manufacturing the uracil auxotroph strain and the result of confirming sequence using gDNA PCR were shown in FIG.

16.

The 5-fluoroorotic acid (5′-FOA) is converted to 5-fluorouracil, a harmful substance, during the synthesis of uracil, thereby leading to apoptosis. Therefore, the URA3 gene-deficient strain can grow on medium containing uracil and 5′-FOA but cannot grow on medium without uracil.

Example 7: Selection of β-oxidation gene In order to remove acyl-CoA oxidase (pox gene), an enzyme that converts fatty acyl-CoA to 2 trans-enoyl-CoA in the first step of β-oxidation, amino acid sequences of POX4, POXS and POX2 genes of Candida tropicalis 20336 were compared. As a result, homology of two genes, CINF_04670 and CINF_13455 were the highest as 40% or more, and the genes were named as CiPOX1 and CiPOX2. The amino acid sequences were compared and shown in the following Table 9. Further, for CINF_04670, nucleic acid was shown in SEQ ID NO. 4 and amino acid sequence was shown in SEQ ID NO. 5. Further, for CINF_13455, nucleic acid sequence was shown in SEQ ID NO. 6 and amino acid sequence was shown in SEQ ID NO. 7.

TABLE 9 Section CINF_04670(CiPOX1) CINF_13455(CiPOX2) CT.POX4 43% 40% CT.POX5 44% 41% CT.POX2 42% 41%

(Nucleic acid) SEQ ID NO. 4 TAGTGTCATGAAGCCTTTCTTCACCCGCAAGTTCAACGACGACCCTGATCT CAGTGCTCTTGAGGAAGAGGAGGCCGAGGAGAACGAGTAA (Amino acid) SEQ ID NO. 5 MTKSLSTNPANDVVIDGKKYNTFTEPPKAMAAERAKASFPVREMTYYLDGG EKVTEYNEAVWEQLERAPAFDNTDYYDVCGDHELLRARTLAKVGAIAEIVT DGRSERDIQKVLSFVSVIDPGAMTRIGVHFGLFLNGVRGSGTSEQFNYWVG EGAANLSNFFGCFCMTELGHGSNVAGVETTATFDRNTEEFVINTPTIAASK WWIGGAAHTATHGLVFARLIVDGKDYGVKNFVVPLRDRNTWNLMPGVSIGD IGKKMGRDGIDNGWVQFSNVRIPRLFMMMKYAKVSKDGKVTQPPLAQLAYG ALISGRVSMVYDSYTWARRFLTIAIRYACCRRQFSSSPGGLETKLIDYTFH QRRLLPRLAYAYAMNAGSAELYKIYFAATDRLASTKPTDKEGLQSAIDDVK ELFSVSAGLKAFSTWGTAQIlDECRQACGGLGYSGYNGFGQGYNDWVVQCT WEGDNNVLTLSAGRSLIQSGLAIRKGEHVGAAASYLKRELNAKLNGRSLED LNVHDGWEHVSAVGISQAVDRYVELEKEGVSQTEAFERLSQQRYDVTRVHT RMYLIKSFFENLKTASPALQPVLTDLALLFALWSIEIDASVFLRYGFLEPK DISTITVLVNKYTGKVREQAlPLTDAFNQSDFVINAPIGNYNGDVYNNYFA KTKAANPPINTHPPYYDSVMKPFFTRKFNDDPDLSALEEEEAEENE (Nucleic acid) SEQ ID NO. 6 CGCATTCTTCAAGCGCACTCCCTATGAGCAACCCAGGCTCGATGAGATTT AA (Amino acid) SEQ ID NO. 7 MKANNTASLLKDGKELNTFTRPASDMQAERDRTSFPVREMTHFFNNGKENT EFLEKLFERIQRDPAFNNKDFYDLDYKPLRQRTFEQIGRMWSYLDELGADS PLARRFLSPFGMINPSAQTRVSVHYGLFVSALRGQGTDKQYEFWKSQGCLS LNRFYGCFGMTELGHGSNVAELETTATFDRATDEFIIHTPNTAATKWWIGG AAHSSNHTVCFARLIVDGKDYGVRNFVVPLRDPESHNLLPGIAVGDIGKKM GRDGIDNGWIQFSNVRIPRTYMLMRYSQVTPEGKVIEPPLAQLTYGALINT GRVAMAYDSWVWARRFLTIALRYAAVRRQFSSTEGREESKLLDYVLHQRRL IPLLAQAIGIEAAATELYRLFDEVTHHQASLDTSDRKAVSDMVDKTKELFS LSAGLKAFSTWATVDTIDECRQACGGLGYLSATGFGQGFDDWVVNCTWEGD NNVLCLSAGRSLIQSGCKVLDGKHVTGAADYLGRIKTLRGKSLASGDLRDP KVLVGAWESVAAQAVMDAAEAYKKLRARGVSDKAAFEELSIDRFNIARLHT RCFQIKALFRKIANANPSIQKVLTNVGLLFALWSIEKNGSPFLQYGFLTSD DMNKVIDLVTFYCGEVRDQVIGITDSFNISDFFLNSPIGNYDGNAYENLMD SVTERNVPGTPCPYQDAMNAFFKRTPYEQPRLDEI

Example 8: Selection of CiPOX1 Gene-Deficient Strain

A CiPOX1 gene deletion cassette was manufactured using URA3 pop-out vector containing 500 bp homology region at both ends of the CiPOX1 gene, and then the CiPOX1 gene deletion cassette was introduced into the uracil auxotroph strain (Accession No.: KCTC13103BP) regulated in the S phase through transformation. The URA3 pop-out vector contains Candida tropicalis URA3 (Ct.URA3) gene for survival in the uracil-free medium and a repeated sequence derived from bacillus subtilis at both ends of the Ct.URA3 gene for deletion (popout) of the Ct.URA3 gene, and the transformed strain can be selected on the uracil-free medium of Table 10 by the Ct.URA3 gene. SEQ ID NO. 8 shows the Candida tropicalis URA3 (Ct.URA3) sequence and SEQ ID NO. 9 shows the repeated sequence derived from bacillus subtilis. Mimetic diagrams of the vector and the cassette and the results of confirming the sequence using gDNA PCR were shown in FIG. 17 (Accession No.: KCTC13104BP).

TABLE 10 Medium composition g/L Dextrose 20 YNB without amino acid 6.7 Agar 20

SEQ ID NO. 8 Cgggacatggggggtagagaagaagggtttgattggatcatcatgacgcct ggtgtggggttggatgataaaggcgatgcgttgggccagcagtataggact gttgatgaggtggttctgactggtaccgatgtgattattgtcgggagaggg ttgtttggaaaaggaagagaccctgaggtggagggaaagagatacagggat gctggatggaaggcatacttgaagagaactggtcagttagaataaatattg taataaataggtctatatacatacactaagcttctaggacgtcattgtagt cttcgaagttgtctgctagtttagttctcatgatttcgaaaaccaataacg caatggatgtagcagggatggtggttagtgcgttcctgacaaacccagagt acgccgcctcaaaccacgtcacattcgccctttgcttcatccgcatcactt gcttgaaggtatccacgtacgagttgtaatacaccttgaagaacggcttcg tctgacccttgagcttcgcctcgttgtaatgattatacacatccaacgctt ccaacctcgataaatggatcttctgcacttttgaaatcgggtactggatcg caagcaacgagaacgccgccgatgctccggcaagcaacacaaacgaggact tcaagatc SEQ ID NO. 9 gtttaatactggttttcggagaagcgcctgtacctccgtcatagccgctga tcacaatgacatctgcagtcgctttggcaacacctgcagcgattgttccta cacctgcttttgacaccagctttacgctgattcttgcgtcacggttggcat ttttcaaatcgtggatcagctgggctaaatcctcaatcgaataaatgtcat ggtgtggcggaggtgagattaatccgacacctggcgttgacccacggacat cggcaacccatggatataccttgttgccaggaagctgcccgccttcacccg gcttagcaccttgagccattttaatctgcagctcatcagcattgacgaggt aatggcttttgacaccaaaccgtccggatgcaatttgtttgatcgcacttc ttctatcatcgccgttctcatctggaacaaagcgtttgggatcttctccgc cttcaccgctgttgctttttcctccaagacggttcattgcgattgctaaag cttcgt

Example 9: Selection of CiPOX2 Gene-Deficient Strain

A CiPOX2 gene deletion cassette was manufactured using URA3 pop-out vector containing 500 bp homology region at both ends of the CiPOX2 gene, and then the CiPOX2 gene deletion cassette was introduced into the uracil auxotroph strain (Accession No.: KCTC13103BP) regulated in the S phase through transformation. The URA3 pop-out vector contains Candida tropicalis URA3 (Ct.URA3) gene for survival in the uracil-free medium and a repeated sequence derived from bacillus subtilis at both ends of the Ct.URA3 gene for deletion (popout) of the Ct.URA3 gene, and the transformed strain can be selected on uracil-free medium. Mimetic diagrams of the vector and the cassette and the results of confirming the sequence using gDNA PCR were shown in FIG. 18 (Accession No.: KCTC13105BP).

Example 10: Selection of CiPOX1 and CiPOX2 Gene-Deficient Strain

A CiPOX2 gene deletion cassette was manufactured using URA3 pop-out vector containing 500 bp homology region at both ends of the CiPOX2 gene, and then the CiPOX2 gene deletion cassette was introduced into a CiPOX1 and CtURA3 deficient strain regulated in the S phase through transformation. The CiPOX1 and CtURA3 deficient strain is manufactured by popping-out the Ct.URA3 from the CiPOX1 deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13104BP). The URA3 pop-out vector contains Candida tropicalis URA3 (Ct.URA3) gene for survival in the uracil-free medium and a repeated sequence derived from bacillus subtilis at both ends of the Ct.URA3 gene for deletion (pop-out) of the Ct.URA3 gene. The transformed strain can be selected on uracil-free medium by the Ct.URA3 gene. Mimetic diagrams of the vector and the cassette and the results of confirming the sequence using gDNA PCR were shown in FIG. 19 (Accession No.: KCTC13106BP).

Example 11: Flask Culture of Candida infanticola Transformant Strain for Dioic Acids Conversion

In order to check dicarboxylic acid productivity of the transformant strain of the present invention, each of strains (wild type strain (Accession No.: KCTC 12820BP), POX1 gene deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13104BP), CiPOX2 gene deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13105BP), CiPOX1/CiPOX2 gene deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13106BP)) was flask cultured. 50 ml liquid culture was performed in a 500 ml baffled flask. The culture conditions were as follows: using YPED medium, total culture time of 72 hr, 30° C., 200 rpm, pH of 6 to 7.5. In order to ensure a sufficient amount of cell growth, the strain was cultured using glucose as a carbon source for 24 hr, and then dodecane 1% and potassium phosphate for adjusting to pH 7.5 were added thereto. From the addition of dodecane, 0.5% of glucose was added every 6 hr. As a result of confirming concentration of the converted dodecanedioic acid, at 72 hr, the concentration of the wild type strain (Accession No.: KCTC12820BP) was 0 g/L, that of the POX1 gene-deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13104BP) was 9.39 g/L, and that of the POX1 and POX2 gene-deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13106BP) was 9.32 g/L. It was confirmed that the

CiPOX1-deficient strain did not use the dodecane as a carbon source, and the dodecane was converted into dodecanedioic acid at 92% (mol/mol) or more. The results were shown in FIG. 20.

Example 12:5 L Fermenter Culture of Candida infanticola Transformant Strain for Dioic Acids Conversion

In order to check dicarboxylic acid productivity of the transformant strain of the present invention, 5 L-scale fermenter culture was performed using CiPOX1 and CiPOX2 gene-deficient strain (Accession No.: KCTC13106BP). The primary culture conditions were culture volume of 2 L, pH 5 to 6, temperature of 30° C., quantity of airflow of 1 v/v/m and agitation speed of 200 rpm. 10 N NaOH was used for pH adjustment, and as the dissolved oxygen in the culture solution decreased, rpm was controlled to maintain the dissolved oxygen at 30% or more. For the secondary culture for the conversion of dioic acids after 12 hr, time point of consumption of glucose for cell growth in the initial medium, 20 ml of dodecane as a ω-oxidation induction material for the secondary culture for dioic acids conversion was added, and glucose for providing reducing power was added at a rate of 4 g/hr. Culture conditions were changed to pH 7.5 and quantity of airflow of 0.5 v/v/m. After 12 hr of the secondary culture, methyl laurate as a substrate was added at a rate of 1.2 ml/hr to 1.5 ml/hr and culture for total 48 hr. It was confirmed that the converted dodecanedioic acids was produced at 17.64 g/L at 48 hr and the conversion yield was 90% (mol/mol) or more. The results were shown in FIG. 21.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail as described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the specific description is merely desirable exemplary embodiment and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the substantial scope of the present invention is defined by the accompanying claims and equivalent thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing dioic acids from a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids using a Candida infanticola strain.
 2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises the following steps: (A) culturing the Candida infanticola strain in yeast extract glucose medium supplemented with a substrate containing hydrocarbons or fatty acids; (B) adding a carbon source or a substrate containing hydrocarbons, fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives to the culture solution of step (A); and (C) culturing the reaction solution of the step (B) while adding glucose and a substrate consisting of either hydrocarbons or fatty acids.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein step (A) is carried out at a temperature of 30±5° C., the culture of step (A) contains dissolved oxygen of 10% or more of oxygen saturation; and the culturing of step (A) takes please between 20 hr and 50 hr.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein step (B) is conducted with a carbon source of 0.5% to 5% of the total weight of the culture for between 10 hr and 30 hr.
 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the culture of the step (C) is conducted with a substrate addition rate of between 0.1 ml/L/h and 10 ml/L/h and a glucose addition rate of between 1 g/L/h and 3 g/L/h for between 50 hr and 100 hr.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dioic acids are selected from the group consisting of ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, pentanedioic acid, hexanedioic acid, octanedioic acid, nonanedioic acid, decanedioic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid, hexadecanedioic acid and a combination thereof.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Candida infanticola strain is selected from the group consisting of: Candida infanticola wild type strain (Candida infanticola DS02; KCTC 12820BP), Candida infanticola mutant strain (Candida infanticola LC-DA01; KCTC13099BP), a Candida infanticola transformant strain selected from KCTC13103BP, KCTC13104BP, KCTC13105BP, and KCTC13106BP, or a combination thereof.
 8. A method for producing dioic acids using a Candida infanticola strain, comprising (A) culturing the Candida infanticola strain in a culture medium supplemented with a substrate containing hydrocarbons and/or fatty acids; (B) adding a carbon source or an additional substrate containing hydrocarbons, fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives to the culture solution of step (A); and (C) culturing the reaction solution of step (B) while adding glucose and an additional substrate comprising hydrocarbons and/or fatty acids. 